A-RU Restaurant Review

: The Santa Ynez Valley is a meat and potatoes kind of town, but that doesn’t mean it lacks diversity. Though the idea of Buellton and sushi don’t seem cohesive, A-RU makes sure they are. Chef-owner Jina Bae shops for the restaurant’s seafood and offers some 20 varieties of fish and 35 different rolls, bringing big city Japanese cuisine to this tiny hamlet. Sushi highlights include kanpachi and ama ebi (sweet shrimp), as well as a tidy tekka maki roll with avocado. Tamer choices include a California roll made with fresh snow crab, and the Asian garlic roll with albacore, avocado and garlic topped with organic salmon and wasabi mango. A large selection of cooked items and combo plates is also available including the marinated Korean beef short ribs, which are smoky-sweet with a tinge of charcoal, and dotted with sesame seeds. Desserts like mango mochi ice cream or cassis sorbet are refreshing temptations. The modest wine list dedicates itself to the producers of the surrounding Santa Barbara wine country, and there are several Japanese beers and premium sakés on hand.